Squash hybrid SV0109YL and parents thereof

ABSTRACT

The invention provides seed and plants of squash hybrid SV0109YL and the parent lines thereof. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of squash hybrid SV0109YL and the parent lines thereof, and to methods for producing a squash plant produced by crossing such plants with themselves or with another squash plant, such as a plant of another genotype. The invention further relates to seeds and plants produced by such crossing. The invention further relates to parts of such plants, including the fruit and gametes of such plants.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of plant breeding and, morespecifically, to the development of squash hybrid SV0109YL and theinbred squash lines ZGY-EH10002 and LEB 48-4101.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The goal of vegetable breeding is to combine various desirable traits ina single variety/hybrid. Such desirable traits may include any traitdeemed beneficial by a grower and/or consumer, including greater yield,resistance to insects or disease, tolerance to environmental stress, andnutritional value.

Breeding techniques take advantage of a plant's method of pollination.There are two general methods of pollination: a plant self-pollinates ifpollen from one flower is transferred to the same or another flower ofthe same plant or plant variety. A plant cross-pollinates if pollencomes to it from a flower of a different plant variety.

Plants that have been self-pollinated and selected for type over manygenerations become homozygous at almost all gene loci and produce auniform population of true breeding progeny, a homozygous plant. A crossbetween two such homozygous plants of different genotypes produces auniform population of hybrid plants that are heterozygous for many geneloci. Conversely, a cross of two plants each heterozygous at a number ofloci produces a population of hybrid plants that differ genetically andare not uniform. The resulting non-uniformity makes performanceunpredictable.

The development of uniform varieties requires the development ofhomozygous inbred plants, the crossing of these inbred plants, and theevaluation of the crosses. Pedigree breeding and recurrent selection areexamples of breeding methods that have been used to develop inbredplants from breeding populations. Those breeding methods combine thegenetic backgrounds from two or more plants or various other broad-basedsources into breeding pools from which new lines and hybrids derivedtherefrom are developed by selfing and selection of desired phenotypes.The new lines and hybrids are evaluated to determine which of those havecommercial potential.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect, the present invention provides a squash plant of thehybrid designated SV0109YL, the squash line ZGY-EH10002 or squash LEB48-4101. Also provided are squash plants having all the physiologicaland morphological characteristics of such a plant. Parts of these squashplants are also provided, for example, including pollen, an ovule,scion, a rootstock, a fruit, and a cell of the plant.

In another aspect of the invention, a plant of squash hybrid SV0109YLand/or squash lines ZGY-EH10002 and LEB 48-4101 comprising an addedheritable trait is provided. The heritable trait may comprise a geneticlocus that is, for example, a dominant or recessive allele. In oneembodiment of the invention, a plant of squash hybrid SV0109YL and/orsquash lines ZGY-EH10002 and LEB 48-4101 is defined as comprising asingle locus conversion. In specific embodiments of the invention, anadded genetic locus confers one or more traits such as, for example,herbicide tolerance, insect resistance, disease resistance, and modifiedcarbohydrate metabolism. In further embodiments, the trait may beconferred by a naturally occurring gene introduced into the genome of aline by backcrossing, a natural or induced mutation, or a transgeneintroduced through genetic transformation techniques into the plant or aprogenitor of any previous generation thereof. When introduced throughtransformation, a genetic locus may comprise one or more genesintegrated at a single chromosomal location.

The invention also concerns the seed of squash hybrid SV0109YL and/orsquash lines ZGY-EH10002 and LEB 48-4101. The squash seed of theinvention may be provided as an essentially homogeneous population ofsquash seed of squash hybrid SV0109YL and/or squash lines ZGY-EH10002and LEB 48-4101. Essentially homogeneous populations of seed aregenerally free from substantial numbers of other seed. Therefore, seedof hybrid SV0109YL and/or squash lines ZGY-EH10002 and LEB 48-4101 maybe defined as forming at least about 97% of the total seed, including atleast about 98%, 99% or more of the seed. The seed population may beseparately grown to provide an essentially homogeneous population ofsquash plants designated SV0109YL and/or squash lines ZGY-EH10002 andLEB 48-4101.

In yet another aspect of the invention, a tissue culture of regenerablecells of a squash plant of hybrid SV0109YL and/or squash linesZGY-EH10002 and LEB 48-4101 is provided. The tissue culture willpreferably be capable of regenerating squash plants capable ofexpressing all of the physiological and morphological characteristics ofthe starting plant, and of regenerating plants having substantially thesame genotype as the starting plant. Examples of some of thephysiological and morphological characteristics of the hybrid SV0109YLand/or squash lines ZGY-EH10002 and LEB 48-4101 include those traits setforth in the tables herein. The regenerable cells in such tissuecultures may be derived, for example, from embryos, meristems,cotyledons, pollen, leaves, anthers, roots, root tips, pistils, flowers,seed and stalks. Still further, the present invention provides squashplants regenerated from a tissue culture of the invention, the plantshaving all the physiological and morphological characteristics of hybridSV0109YL and/or squash lines ZGY-EH10002 and LEB 48-4101.

In still yet another aspect of the invention, processes are provided forproducing squash seeds, plants and fruit, which processes generallycomprise crossing a first parent squash plant with a second parentsquash plant, wherein at least one of the first or second parent squashplants is a plant of squash line ZGY-EH10002 or squash LEB 48-4101.These processes may be further exemplified as processes for preparinghybrid squash seed or plants, wherein a first squash plant is crossedwith a second squash plant of a different, distinct genotype to providea hybrid that has, as one of its parents, a plant of squash lineZGY-EH10002 or squash LEB 48-4101. In these processes, crossing willresult in the production of seed. The seed production occurs regardlessof whether the seed is collected or not.

In one embodiment of the invention, the first step in “crossing”comprises planting seeds of a first and second parent squash plant,often in proximity so that pollination will occur for example, mediatedby insect vectors. Alternatively, pollen can be transferred manually.Where the plant is self-pollinated, pollination may occur without theneed for direct human intervention other than plant cultivation.

A second step may comprise cultivating or growing the seeds of first andsecond parent squash plants into plants that bear flowers. A third stepmay comprise preventing self-pollination of the plants, such as byemasculating the flowers (i.e., killing or removing the pollen).

A fourth step for a hybrid cross may comprise cross-pollination betweenthe first and second parent squash plants. Yet another step comprisesharvesting the seeds from at least one of the parent squash plants. Theharvested seed can be grown to produce a squash plant or hybrid squashplant.

The present invention also provides the squash seeds and plants producedby a process that comprises crossing a first parent squash plant with asecond parent squash plant, wherein at least one of the first or secondparent squash plants is a plant of squash hybrid SV0109YL and/or squashlines ZGY-EH10002 and LEB 48-4101. In one embodiment of the invention,squash seed and plants produced by the process are first generation (F₁)hybrid squash seed and plants produced by crossing a plant in accordancewith the invention with another, distinct plant. The present inventionfurther contemplates plant parts of such an F₁ hybrid squash plant, andmethods of use thereof. Therefore, certain exemplary embodiments of theinvention provide an F₁ hybrid squash plant and seed thereof.

In still yet another aspect, the present invention provides a method ofproducing a plant derived from hybrid SV0109YL and/or squash linesZGY-EH10002 and LEB 48-4101, the method comprising the steps of: (a)preparing a progeny plant derived from hybrid SV0109YL and/or squashlines ZGY-EH10002 and LEB 48-4101, wherein said preparing comprisescrossing a plant of the hybrid SV0109YL and/or squash lines ZGY-EH10002and LEB 48-4101 with a second plant; and (b) crossing the progeny plantwith itself or a second plant to produce a seed of a progeny plant of asubsequent generation. In further embodiments, the method mayadditionally comprise: (c) growing a progeny plant of a subsequentgeneration from said seed of a progeny plant of a subsequent generationand crossing the progeny plant of a subsequent generation with itself ora second plant; and repeating the steps for an additional 3-10generations to produce a plant derived from hybrid SV0109YL and/orsquash lines ZGY-EH10002 and LEB 48-4101. The plant derived from hybridSV0109YL and/or squash lines ZGY-EH10002 and LEB 48-4101 may be aninbred line, and the aforementioned repeated crossing steps may bedefined as comprising sufficient inbreeding to produce the inbred line.In the method, it may be desirable to select particular plants resultingfrom step (c) for continued crossing according to steps (b) and (c). Byselecting plants having one or more desirable traits, a plant derivedfrom hybrid SV0109YL and/or squash lines ZGY-EH10002 and LEB 48-4101 isobtained which possesses some of the desirable traits of the line/hybridas well as potentially other selected traits.

In certain embodiments, the present invention provides a method ofproducing food or feed comprising: (a) obtaining a plant of squashhybrid SV0109YL and/or squash lines ZGY-EH10002 and LEB 48-4101, whereinthe plant has been cultivated to maturity, and (b) collecting at leastone squash from the plant.

In still yet another aspect of the invention, the genetic complement ofsquash hybrid SV0109YL and/or squash lines ZGY-EH10002 and LEB 48-4101is provided. The phrase “genetic complement” is used to refer to theaggregate of nucleotide sequences, the expression of which sequencesdefines the phenotype of, in the present case, a squash plant, or a cellor tissue of that plant. A genetic complement thus represents thegenetic makeup of a cell, tissue or plant, and a hybrid geneticcomplement represents the genetic make up of a hybrid cell, tissue orplant. The invention thus provides squash plant cells that have agenetic complement in accordance with the squash plant cells disclosedherein, and seeds and plants containing such cells.

Plant genetic complements may be assessed by genetic marker profiles,and by the expression of phenotypic traits that are characteristic ofthe expression of the genetic complement, e.g., isozyme typing profiles.It is understood that hybrid SV0109YL and/or squash lines ZGY-EH10002and LEB 48-4101 could be identified by any of the many well knowntechniques such as, for example, Simple Sequence Length Polymorphisms(SSLPs) (Williams et al., Nucleic Acids Res., 1 8:6531-6535, 1990),Randomly Amplified Polymorphic DNAs (RAPDs), DNA AmplificationFingerprinting (DAF), Sequence Characterized Amplified Regions (SCARs),Arbitrary Primed Polymerase Chain Reaction (AP-PCR), Amplified FragmentLength Polymorphisms (AFLPs) (EP 534 858, specifically incorporatedherein by reference in its entirety), and Single NucleotidePolymorphisms (SNPs) (Wang et al., Science, 280:1077-1082, 1998).

In still yet another aspect, the present invention provides hybridgenetic complements, as represented by squash plant cells, tissues,plants, and seeds, formed by the combination of a haploid geneticcomplement of a squash plant of the invention with a haploid geneticcomplement of a second squash plant, preferably, another, distinctsquash plant. In another aspect, the present invention provides a squashplant regenerated from a tissue culture that comprises a hybrid geneticcomplement of this invention.

Any embodiment discussed herein with respect to one aspect of theinvention applies to other aspects of the invention as well, unlessspecifically noted.

The term “about” is used to indicate that a value includes the standarddeviation of the mean for the device or method being employed todetermine the value. The use of the term “or” in the claims is used tomean “and/or” unless explicitly indicated to refer to alternatives onlyor the alternatives are mutually exclusive. When used in conjunctionwith the word “comprising” or other open language in the claims, thewords “a” and “an” denote “one or more,” unless specifically notedotherwise. The terms “comprise,” “have” and “include” are open-endedlinking verbs. Any forms or tenses of one or more of these verbs, suchas “comprises,” “comprising,” “has,” “having,” “includes” and“including,” are also open-ended. For example, any method that“comprises,” “has” or “includes” one or more steps is not limited topossessing only those one or more steps and also covers other unlistedsteps. Similarly, any plant that “comprises,” “has” or “includes” one ormore traits is not limited to possessing only those one or more traitsand covers other unlisted traits.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention willbecome apparent from the following detailed description. It should beunderstood, however, that the detailed description and any specificexamples provided, while indicating specific embodiments of theinvention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changesand modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention willbecome apparent to those skilled in the art from this detaileddescription.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides methods and compositions relating to plants,seeds and derivatives of squash hybrid SV0109YL, squash line ZGY-EH10002and squash LEB 48-4101.

Squash hybrid SV0109YL is also known as LEBEHH0109. LEBEHH0109 is ahybrid squash variety with short tapered fruit, light green color, and aprostrate, branching growth habit. LEBEHH0109 performed well inpre-commercial trials during the winter and spring seasons in the MiddleEast region. It has intermediate resistance to Powdery Mildew.

A. ORIGIN AND BREEDING HISTORY OF SQUASH HYBRID SV0109YL

The parents of hybrid SV0109YL are ZGY-EH10002 and LEB 48-4101. Theseparents were created as follows:

Parent line ZGY-EH10002 was developed through multiple generations ofbreeding using publicly available germplasm. The components ofZGY-EH10002 include “Verde Milano Migliorato”—a dark green Italianzucchini breeding line with cylindrical fruit shape, bush habit, anddark green color, “C88”—a breeding line distributed by INRA (Frenchnational agricultural research agency), a selection from the landrace“Petit Vert d'Algerie” (originally collected in Algeria), and “Beyazkabak”—a landrace of light fruited squash common in the Anatolianplateau of Turkey.

To begin, “Verde Milano Migliorato” was crossed to a selection of “BeyazKabak,” and through five or more generations of inbreeding individualswere selected for an upright, open plant growth habit and a long,cylindrical fruit shape with light green color. Following inbreeding astable and uniform breeding line with these characteristics wasestablished.

Simultaneously, “C88” was crossed to a selection from “Petit Vertd′Algerie,” and five or more generations of inbreeding were performed,with selection for resistance to powdery mildew (from “C88”),productivity, and light green fruit color. Following inbreeding a stableand uniform breeding line with these characteristics was established.

The breeding line derived from the cross of “Verde MilanoMigliorato”×“Beyaz kabak” was crossed to the breeding line derived fromthe “C88”×“Petit Vert d′Algerie” breeding line in 2002. Later in 2002 F1generation plants from this cross were backcrossed to the parent derivedfrom “Verde Milano Migliorato”×“Beyaz kabak” and these BC1F1 plants wereself pollinated. A bulk of BC1F2 seed was planted in 2003, and onlyplants showing resistance to powdery mildew were selected. During thegenerations BC1F3 through BC1F7 individuals with light green fruitcolor, good productivity, and powdery mildew resistance were selected.In June of 2010 a single BC1F7 individual was selected and identified asZGY-EH10002, all subsequent generations are derived from this plant.This parent line has been observed to be phenotypically uniform andstable across generations since that time.

Parent line LEB-48-4101 was previously claimed in U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 12/955,815, filed on Nov. 29, 2010.

LEB 48-4101 was developed through 23 generations of inbreeding(controlled self pollination) and crossing. The initial source of thekey traits of value (resistance to Zucchini Yellow Mosaic Virus (ZYMV)and Watermelon Mosaic Virus II (WMV-II)) was a diverse early generationpopulation of squash distributed by Henry Munger of Cornell Universityin 1986 to collaborating seed companies and initially designated as“HMZYR”. An individual from that population was crossed to a selectionfrom the landrace “Petit Vert d′Algerie,” in 1986, and then selfpollinated for 3 generations, with selection for fruit color and shapein each generation (generations 1-4). An individual was selected fromthis population after the 3 generations of inbreeding and crossed to aproprietary breeding line known as LEB 47-98 (derived from a selectionfrom cultivated landraces of squash common throughout the Middle Eastregion). This germplasm was selected and self pollinated for sixgenerations (generations 5-10), when an individual was selected andcrossed again to LEB 47-98. This population was selected and selfpollinated for six seasons (generations 11-16), when an individual wasselected and crossed to the proprietary breeding line known asLEB-47-103 (also derived from a selection from cultivated landraces ofsquash common throughout the Middle East region). This population wasthen selected and self pollinated for seven seasons (generations 17-23),after which it was designated as LEB 48-4101, and large scaleamplification of the line began.

The parent lines are uniform and stable, as is a hybrid producedtherefrom. A small percentage of variants can occur within commerciallyacceptable limits for almost any characteristic during the course ofrepeated multiplication. However no variants are expected.

B. PHYSIOLOGICAL AND MORPHOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF SQUASH HYBRIDSV0109YL, SQUASH LINE ZGY-EH10002 AND SQUASH LEB 48-4101

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a plant having the physiological and morphologicalcharacteristics of squash hybrid SV0109YL and the parent lines thereof.A description of the physiological and morphological characteristics ofsuch plants is presented in Table 1.

TABLE 1 Physiological and Morphological Characteristics of HybridSV0109YL Comparison Variety CHARACTERISTIC SV0109YL Anita 1. SpeciesPepo Pepo 2. Kind/Use squash squash 3. Type summer (vegetable marrow)summer 4. Cotyledon length 50.5 mm 42.55 mm width 33.1 mm 28.55 mm apexrounded tapered veining plainly visible plainly visible color mediumgreen medium green color (RHS Color Chart) 137B 137A Seedling shape ofcotyledons elliptic (Cora, Tivoli) elliptic intensity of green color ofmedium (Cora) medium cotyledons cross section of straight (Sunburst)straight cotyledons 5. Mature Plant growth habit bush semi-bush planttype prickly pilose 6. Main Stem cross-section shape angled rounddiameter at mid-point of 27.1 mm 26.15 mm 1^(st) internode averagelength 41.9 cm 45.8 cm average number of  35  33 internodes Stem colorcompletely green (Becky) partly green and partly yellow intensity ofgreen color dark (Greyzini) very dark mottling present (Cora) absenttendrils absent to rudimentary well developed (Goldrush, Sylvana) Plantgrowth habit bush (Greyzini) semi-trailing branching absent (Goldi)absent bush varieties only: erect to semi-erect (Sardane) attitude ofpetiole (excluding lower external leaves) 7. Leaves blade shape reniformreniform blade form shallow lobed deep lobed margin dentate denticulatemargin edges frilled frilled average width 40.8 cm 36.2 cm averagelength 32.9 cm 29.75 cm leaf surface blistered blistered dorsal surfacepubescence bristled glabrous vental surface pubescence bristled glabrouscolor dark green dark green color (RHS Color Chart) 137A 147A leafblotching blotched with gray blotched with gray leaf blade: size large(Kriti) large leaf blade: incisions shallow (Everest) medium leaf blade:silvery patches present (Civac) present leaf blade: relative area small(Aziz) small covered by silvery patches average petiole length 36.1 cm38.35 cm petiole length long (Autumn Gold, Baikal) long petiole: numberof very many (Yellow Summer few prickles Crookneck) 8. Flower pistillateflower: average 19.6 cm 15.9 cm diameter pistillate flower: ovarydrum-like drum-like pistillate flower: average 2.1 cm 1.7 cm pedicellength pistillate flower: margin curved curved shape pistillate flower:margin frilled frilled edges pistillate flower: average 2.1 mm 1.35 mmsepal width pistillate flower: average 5.9 mm 5.4 mm sepal lengthpistillate flower: color orange orange pistillate flower: color  17A 23A (RHS Color Chart) staminate flower: average 19.8 mm 16.8 mm sepallength staminate flower: average 3.1 mm 3 mm sepal width staminateflower: average 133.8 mm 122.9 mm pedicel length staminate flower: colororange orange female flower: ring at present (Aurore) present inner sideof corolla female flower: color of green (Aurore, Early White green ringat inner side of Bush Scallop, President) corolla female flower:intensity of weak (Maya, Sardane) medium green color of ring at innerside of corolla (varieties with green ring at inner side of corolla)male flower: ring at inner present (Goldi) present side of corolla maleflower: color of ring green (Austral, Belor, Goldi) green at inner sideof corolla male flower: intensity of strong (Goldi) medium green colorof ring at inner side of corolla staminate flower: color N25C  17A 9.Fruit market maturity: average 13.3 cm 13.3 cm length market maturity:average 2 cm 3.1 cm width - stem end at market maturity: 1.1 cm 3 cmaverage width - blossom end market maturity: average 238 gm 236.5 gmweight market maturity: shape straightneck straightneck according tovariety type market maturity: apex rounded flattened market maturity:base rounded rounded market maturity: ribs inconspicuous inconspicuousmarket maturity: rib shallow shallow furrow depth market maturity: ribmedium wide narrow furrow width market maturity: fruit smooth smoothsurface market maturity: warts none none market maturity: blossomslightly extended raised acorn scar button young fruit: ratio length/medium (Cora) medium maximum diameter (zucchini type varieties) youngfruit: general shape tapered elliptical (Top Kapi) tapered elliptical(zucchini and rounded zucchini type varieties) young fruit: main colorof green (Elite, Opal, Romano) green skin (excluding color of ribs orgrooves) young fruit: intensity of light (Arlika) light green color ofskin (only varieties with green color of skin) general shape club shapedclub shaped length (zucchini type medium (Cora) medium varieties)maximum diameter medium (Opal) medium (zucchini type varieties) ratiolength/maximum medium (Cora) medium diameter (zucchini type varieties)blossom end (zucchini and rounded rounded neck type varieties) groovesabsent absent ribs present present protrusion of ribs weak (Ambassador)weak main color of skin green (Ambassador, Baby green (excluding colorof dots, Bear) patches, stripes and bands) intensity of green color oflight light skin (only varieties with green color of skin) color of ribscompared to same (Grey Zucchini) same main color of skin dots present(Gold Rush, Table present Queen) size of main dots large (Kingsize)small secondary green color absent (Grey Zucchini, absent between ribs(excluding Small Sugar) dots) warts on skin absent absent size of flowerscar small (Goldi) large length of peduncle long (Tivoli) medium colorof peduncle green (Ambassador) green intensity of green color of medium(Sunburst) medium peduncle mottling of peduncle present (Elite) absentRipe Fruit: main color of orange (Autumn Gold) yellow skin (excludingcolor of mottles, patches, stripes and bands) ripe fruit: intensity ofmedium light main color of skin (only yellow and orange) ripe fruit:color of flesh cream (Elite) cream ripe fruit: lignified rind present(Elite, Little Gem, present Scallopini, Yellow Summer Crookneck) ripefruit: structure of fibrous (Vegetable fibrous flesh Spaghetti) 10. Rindaverage thickness at 1.7 mm 2.5 mm medial toughness hard hard overallcolor pattern regular regular main or ground color yellowish-orangeyellowish-orange main or ground color  17A  18A (RHS Color Chart) 11.Flesh average blossom end 58 mm 29.45 mm thickness average medialthickness 52.9 mm 52.8 mm average stem end 46.5 mm 26.25 mm thicknesstexture (fine, granular, fine fine lumpy or stringy) texture (soft, firmor soft firm brittle) texture (dry, moist or juicy juicy juicy) flavorsweet sweet quality excellent excellent color creamy-whitegreenish-white color (RHS Color Chart) 150D 157D 12. Seed Cavity averagelength 28.1 cm 25.5 cm average width 7.5 cm 8.7 cm location conforms tofruit shape conforms to fruit shape placental tissue abundant abundantcenter core inconspicuous inconspicuous 13. Fruit Stalks average length3.6 cm 3.15 cm average diameter 1.9 cm 2.1 cm cross-section shape roundirregular twisting twisted not twisted tapering tapered taperedstraightness slightly curved straight texture spongy soft furrows deepshallow surface spiny spiny attachment end slightly expanded expandeddetaches easily easily color medium green medium green color (RHS ColorChart) 138A 143B 14. Seeds average length 15.9 mm 18.6 mm average width9.6 mm 9.2 mm average thickness 2.7 mm 2.8 mm face surface smooth smoothcolor cream white color (RHS Color Chart) 158A 155A luster dull dullmargin curved curved margin edge rounded rounded separation from pulpeasy easy average grams per 100 13.4 gm 17 gm seeds average number ofseeds 363 342 per fruit seed coat normal normal size medium (Diamant)large shape broad elliptic (Baby Boo) elliptic hull present (Baby Bear,Elite) present appearance of hull fully developed (Elite) fullydeveloped color of hull cream (De Nice à Fruit cream Rond) fruit type:zucchini fruit: patches, stripes or absent (Ambassador, Black bands inripe stage (if Jack) zucchini type) *These are typical values. Valuesmay vary due to environment. Other values that are substantiallyequivalent are also within the scope of the invention.

TABLE 2 Physiological and Morphological Characteristics of LineZGY-EH10002 Comparison Variety CHARACTERISTIC ZGY-EH10002 GreyZucchini 1. Species Pepo Pepo 2. Kind/Use squash squash 3. Type summer(vegetable marrow) summer 4. Cotyledon length 42.8 mm 41.9 mm width 25.5mm 27.65 mm apex rounded rounded veining obscure obscure color lightgreen light green color (RHS Color Chart) 143A 143A Seedling shape ofcotyledons narrow elliptic (Bianchini) narrow elliptic intensity ofgreen color of light (Bianchini) light cotyledons cross section ofstraight (Sunburst) concave cotyledons 5. Mature Plant growth habit bushbush plant type glabrous glabrous 6. Main Stem cross-section shapeangled angled diameter at mid-point of 23.7 mm 28.65 mm 1^(st) internodeaverage length 34.4 cm 38.1 cm average number of   35.4    30.45internodes Stem color completely green (Becky) completely greenintensity of green color dark (Greyzini) very dark mottling present(Cora) absent tendrils absent to rudimentary well developed (Goldrush,Sylvana) Plant growth habit bush (Greyzini) bush branching absent(Goldi) absent bush varieties only: erect to semi-erect (Sardane)horizontal attitude of petiole (excluding lower external leaves) 7.Leaves blade shape reniform reniform blade form deep lobed deep lobedmargin dentate dentate margin edges frilled frilled average width 34.1cm 32.65 cm average length 30.1 cm 27.85 cm leaf surface blisteredblistered dorsal surface pubescence bristled soft hairy vental surfacepubescence bristled soft hairy color dark green dark green color (RHSColor Chart) 137B 137A leaf blotching blotched with gray blotched withgray leaf blade: size medium (Ambassador) medium leaf blade: incisionsmedium (Jackpot) medium leaf blade: intensity of dark (Everest) darkgreen color of upper surface leaf blade: silvery patches present (Civac)present leaf blade: relative area medium (Ambassador) medium covered bysilvery patches average petiole length 32.7 cm 35.6 cm petiole lengthmedium (Goldi) medium petiole: number of medium (Spidy) medium prickles8. Flower pistillate flower: average 15.9 cm 32.35 cm diameterpistillate flower: ovary drum-like drum-like pistillate flower: average2.9 cm 2.15 cm pedicel length pistillate flower: margin curved curvedshape pistillate flower: margin frilled frilled edges pistillate flower:average 2.2 mm 1.55 mm sepal width pistillate flower: average 5 mm 4.9mm sepal length pistillate flower: color orange orange pistillateflower: color  23A  23A (RHS Color Chart) staminate flower: average 11.8mm 12.3 mm sepal length staminate flower: average 3.2 mm 3.15 mm sepalwidth staminate flower: average 155.7 mm 123.95 mm pedicel lengthstaminate flower: color orange orange female flower: ring at absent(Cinderella, Greyzini) absent inner side of corolla male flower: ring atinner present (Goldi) present side of corolla male flower: color of ringgreen (Austral, Belor, Goldi) green at inner side of corolla maleflower: intensity of weak (Cora) medium green color of ring at innerside of corolla staminate flower: color  23A  23A 9. Fruit marketmaturity: average 14.5 cm 12.25 cm length market maturity: average 2.2cm 2.95 cm width - stem end at market maturity: 1.1 cm 3 cm averagewidth - blossom end market maturity: average 295.5 gm 220.3 gm weightmarket maturity: shape straightneck straightneck according to varietytype market maturity: apex rounded rounded market maturity: base roundedrounded market maturity: ribs prominent inconspicuous market maturity:rib shallow shallow furrow depth market maturity: rib medium wide mediumwide furrow width market maturity: fruit smooth smooth surface marketmaturity: warts none none market maturity: blossom slightly extendedraised acorn scar button young fruit: ratio length/ medium (Cora) mediummaximum diameter (zucchini type varieties) young fruit: general shapepear shaped (Clarita) pear shaped (zucchini and rounded zucchini typevarieties) young fruit: main color of green (Elite, Opal, Romano) greenskin (excluding color of ribs or grooves) young fruit: intensity ofmedium (Baccara) medium green color of skin (only varieties with greencolor of skin) general shape pear shaped pear shaped length (zucchinitype medium (Cora) medium varieties) maximum diameter medium (Opal)medium (zucchini type varieties) ratio length/maximum small (Jedida)medium diameter (zucchini type varieties) blossom end (zucchini androunded rounded neck type varieties) grooves absent absent ribs presentpresent protrusion of ribs medium (Ibis, Opal) weak main color of skingreen (Ambassador, Baby green (excluding color of dots, Bear) patches,stripes and bands) intensity of green color of medium medium skin (onlyvarieties with green color of skin) color of ribs compared to same (GreyZucchini) same main color of skin dots present (Gold Rush, Table presentQueen) size of main dots medium (Grey Zucchini) large secondary greencolor present (Beatrice, Greyzini, absent between ribs (excluding Hearof Gold, Steierischer dots) Ölkürbis, Tonda Padana, Zubi) intensity ofsecondary dark green color between ribs distribution of secondary onecolored bands covering green color between ribs whole surface (BadgerCross, Twickers, Zubi) warts on skin absent absent size of flower scarsmall (Goldi) medium length of peduncle long (Tivoli) medium color ofpeduncle green (Ambassador) green intensity of green color of medium(Sunburst) medium peduncle mottling of peduncle present (Elite) presentripe fruit: secondary color orange (Autumn Gold) orange of skin(excluding color of mottles, patches, stripes and bands) ripe fruit:intensity of dark medium main color of skin (only yellow and orange)ripe fruit: color of flesh cream (Elite) orange ripe fruit: lignifiedrind present (Elite, Little Gem, present Scallopini, Yellow SummerCrookneck) ripe fruit: structure of fibrous (Vegetable fibrous fleshSpaghetti) 10. Rind average thickness at 2.2 mm 2.1 mm medial toughnesshard hard overall color pattern regular regular main or ground colororange orange main or ground color  23A  15A (RHS Color Chart) 11. Fleshaverage blossom end 58 mm 59.4 mm thickness average medial thickness 57mm 59.1 mm average stem end 48.2 mm 52.3 mm thickness texture (fine,granular, fine fine lumpy or stringy) texture (soft, firm or soft softbrittle) texture (dry, moist or juicy juicy juicy) flavor slightly sweetslightly sweet quality good good color creamy-white creamy-white color(RHS Color Chart) 150D 150D 12. Seed Cavity average length 26 cm 23.35cm average width 7 cm 7.1 cm location conforms to fruit shape conformsto fruit shape placental tissue abundant abundant center coreinconspicuous inconspicuous 13. Fruit Stalks average length 5.3 cm 3.1cm average diameter 1.7 cm 2.05 cm cross-section shape irregularirregular twisting twisted twisted tapering tapered tapered straightnessslightly curved slightly curved texture hard spongy furrows shallowshallow surface spiny spiny attachment end slightly expanded slightlyexpanded detaches with difficulty easily color dark green medium greencolor (RHS Color Chart) 141A 143A 14. Seeds average length 14.7 mm 14.05mm average width 9 mm 8.5 mm average thickness 2.1 mm 2.55 mm facesurface smooth smooth color cream cream color (RHS Color Chart)  11C  8Dluster dull glossy margin straight curved margin edge rounded roundedseparation from pulp easy easy average grams per 100 7.2 gm 11.75 gmseeds average number of seeds 177 222 per fruit seed coat normal normalsize medium (Diamant) medium shape broad elliptic (Baby Boo) broadelliptic hull present (Baby Bear, Elite) present appearance of hullfully developed (Elite) fully developed color of hull cream (De Nice àFruit cream Rond) fruit type: zucchini fruit: patches, stripes orpresent (Elite, Greyzini) bands in ripe stage (if zucchini type) *Theseare typical values. Values may vary due to environment. Other valuesthat are substantially equivalent are also within the scope of theinvention.

TABLE 3 Physiological and Morphological Characteristics of LEB 48-4101Comparison Variety CHARACTERISTIC LEB 48-4101 Anita 1. Species Pepo Pepo2. Kind/Use squash squash 3. Type summer (vegetable summer marrow) 4.Cotyledon average length 46.1 mm 61 mm average width 26.5 mm 32.2 mmapex rounded rounded veining plainly visible plainly visible color lightgreen light green color (RHS Color Chart) 137C 137B 5. Seedling shape ofcotyledons elliptic (Cora, Tivoli) elliptic intensity of green color ofcotyledons light (Bianchini) light cross section of cotyledons straight(Sunburst) straight 6. Mature Plant growth habit bush bush plant typeprickly prickly 7. Main Stem cross-section shape round round averagediameter at mid-point of 1^(st) 29.6 mm 33.75 mm internode averagelength 67.7 cm 21.4 cm average number of internodes  27  23 8. Stemcolor partly green and partly green and partly yellow partly yellow(Autumn Gold) intensity of green color medium (Cinderella) mediummottling present (Cora) present tendrils absent to absent to rudimentaryrudimentary (Goldrush, Sylvana) 9. Plant growth habit bush (Greyzini)bush branching absent (Goldi) absent bush varieties only: attitude ofpetiole semi-erect (Arlesa) semi-erect (excluding lower external leaves)10. Leaves blade shape reniform reniform blade form shallow lobed deeplobed margin denticulate denticulate margin edges frilled frilledaverage width 33 cm 34.2 cm average length 24.4 cm 29 cm leaf surfaceblistered blistered dorsal surface pubescence soft hairy soft hairyvental surface pubescence soft hairy soft hairy color dark green darkgreen color (RHS Color Chart) 137A 139A leaf blotching not blotchedblotched with gray leaf blade: size medium large (Ambassador) leafblade: incisions shallow (Everest) medium leaf blade: intensity of greencolor of dark (Everest) dark upper surface leaf blade: silvery patchesabsent (Black Forest, present Scallopini) average petiole length 26.4 cm24.9 cm petiole length medium (Goldi) medium petiole: number of pricklesvery many (Yellow medium Summer Crookneck) 11. Flower pistillate flower:average diameter 15.1 cm 14.1 cm pistillate flower: ovary drum-likedrum-like pistillate flower: average pedicel 2.2 cm 2.3 cm lengthpistillate flower: margin shape curved curved pistillate flower: marginedges frilled plain pistillate flower: average sepal width 1.7 mm 1.7 mmpistillate flower: average sepal length 8.4 mm 7.1 mm pistillate flower:color deep yellow deep yellow pistillate flower: color (RHS Color  17A 17A Chart) staminate flower: average sepal length 13.7 mm 15.2 mmstaminate flower: average sepal width 2.8 mm 2.3 mm staminate flower:average pedicel   178.4 152 mm length staminate flower: color deepyellow deep yellow female flower: ring at inner side of present (Aurore)present corolla female flower: color of ring at inner green (Aurore,Early green side of corolla White Bush Scallop, President) femaleflower: intensity of green color medium (Samba, medium of ring at innerside of corolla Senator) (varieties with green ring at inner side ofcorolla) male flower: ring at inner side of present (Goldi) presentcorolla male flower: color of ring at inner side green (Austral, greenof corolla Belor, Goldi) male flower: intensity of green color medium(Verdi) medium of ring at inner side of corolla (varieties with greenring at inner side of corolla) staminate flower: color  17A  21A 12.Fruit (at market maturity) average length 11.5 cm 11.1 cm averagewidth - stem end 4.2 cm 3.7 cm average width - blossom end 5.6 cm 4.6 cmaverage weight 209 gm 163.8 gm shape according to variety typestraightneck straightneck apex taper pointed taper pointed baseflattened flattened ribs none inconspicuous fruit surface smooth smoothwarts none none blossom scar button raised acron raised acron 13. YoungFruit ratio length/maximum diameter small (Opal) small (zucchini typevarieties) general shape (zucchini and rounded elliptical (Table pearshaped zucchini type varieties) Dainty) main color of skin (excludingcolor of green (Elite, Opal, partly white and ribs or grooves) Romano)partly green intensity of green color of skin light (Arlika) light(excluding color of ribs or grooves; only varieties with green color ofskin) 14. Fruit general shape pear shaped pear shaped length (zucchinitype varieties) short (Jedida) short maximum diameter (zucchini typemedium (Opal) large varieties) ratio length/maximum diameter small(Jedida) medium (zucchini type varieties) blossom end (zucchini and necktype rounded rounded varieties) grooves absent absent ribs absentpresent main color of skin (excluding color of green (Ambassador, greendots, patches, stripes and bands) Baby Bear) intensity of green color ofskin very light very light (excluding color of dots, patches, stripesand bands; varieties with green color or skin) stripes in grooves absent(Baby Bear, absent Jack Be Little) color of ribs compared to main colorsame of skin (excluding color of dots, patches, stripes and bands) dotspresent (Gold Rush, present Table Queen) size of main dots small(Ambassador) large secondary green color between ribs absent (Grey(excluding dots) Zucchini, Small Sugar) warts on skin absent absent sizeof flower scar medium (Spidi) medium length of peduncle medium(Cinderella) long color of peduncle partly yellow and green partly green(Autumn Gold) intensity of green color of peduncle light (Blanchini)medium mottling of peduncle present (Elite) present 15. Ripe Fruit maincolor of skin (excluding color of cream (Bianchini, yellow mottles,patches, stripes and bands) Opal) secondary color of skin (excludingwhitish cream color of mottles, patches, stripes and bands) green hue(only white and cream) present (Amalthee) absent prominence of green hue(only white weak (Eskenderany) and cream) color of flesh cream (Elite)yellow lignified rind absent (Small Sugar, present Table Queen,Vegetable Spaghetti) structure of flesh fibrous (Vegetable fibrousSpaghetti) type rounded zucchini patches, stripes or bands in ripe stageabsent (Ambassador, (zucchini type fruit) Black Jack) 16. Rind averagethickness at medial 2 mm 3.1 mm toughness hard hard overall colorpattern regular irregular main or ground color yellowish-whitecreamy-yellow main or ground color (RHS Color  8C  20C Chart) color ofspots yellow creamy-brown color of spots (RHS Color Chart)  11C 162Cpattern of spots not specific not specific 17. Flesh average blossom endthickness 9.2 mm 20.8 mm average medial thickness 47.6 mm 42.1 mmaverage stem end thickness 23.4 mm 26.8 mm texture (fine, granular,lumpy or stringy stringy stringy) texture (soft, firm or brittle) firmfirm texture (dry, moist or juicy) moist moist flavor insipid insipidquality good good color whitish-cream cream color (RHS Color Chart) 155D155C 18. Seed Cavity average length 17.7 cm 26 cm average width 8.1 cm9.9 cm location conforms to fruit conforms to fruit shape shapeplacental tissues abundant abundant center core inconspicuous prominent19. Fruit Stalks average length 3 cm 3.2 cm average diameter 1.9 cm 2.4cm cross-section shape irregular irregular twisting not twisted nottwisted tapering not tapered not tapered straightness straight straighttexture hard spongy furrows deep deep surface spiny spiny attachment endslightly expanded not expanded detaches easily easily color light greenmedium green color (RHS Color Chart) 144D 144B 20. Seeds average length13.5 mm 16.1 mm average width 7.2 mm 9.1 mm average thickness 2.8 mm 2.5mm face surface smooth smooth color cream cream color (RHS Color Chart)160D 162C luster dull dull margin straight straight margin edge roundedrounded separation from pulp easy easy average grams per 100 seeds 11 gm15 gm average number of seeds per fruit 131 238 seed coat normal normalsize very large (Citrouille large de Touraine) shape broad elliptic(Baby Boo) broad elliptic hull present (Baby Bear, Elite) presentappearance of hull fully developed (Elite) rudimentary color of hullcream (De Nice à Fruit cream Rond) *These are typical values. Values mayvary due to environment. Other values that are substantially equivalentare also within the scope of the invention.

C. BREEDING SQUASH PLANTS

One aspect of the current invention concerns methods for producing seedof squash hybrid SV0109YL involving crossing squash lines ZGY-EH10002and LEB 48-4101. Alternatively, in other embodiments of the invention,hybrid SV0109YL, line ZGY-EH10002, or LEB 48-4101 may be crossed withitself or with any second plant. Such methods can be used forpropagation of hybrid SV0109YL and/or the squash lines ZGY-EH10002 andLEB 48-4101, or can be used to produce plants that are derived fromhybrid SV0109YL and/or the squash lines ZGY-EH10002 and LEB 48-4101.Plants derived from hybrid SV0109YL and/or the squash lines ZGY-EH10002and LEB 48-4101 may be used, in certain embodiments, for the developmentof new squash varieties.

The development of new varieties using one or more starting varieties iswell known in the art. In accordance with the invention, novel varietiesmay be created by crossing hybrid SV0109YL followed by multiplegenerations of breeding according to such well known methods. Newvarieties may be created by crossing with any second plant. In selectingsuch a second plant to cross for the purpose of developing novel lines,it may be desired to choose those plants which either themselves exhibitone or more selected desirable characteristics or which exhibit thedesired characteristic(s) when in hybrid combination. Once initialcrosses have been made, inbreeding and selection take place to producenew varieties. For development of a uniform line, often five or moregenerations of selfing and selection are involved.

Uniform lines of new varieties may also be developed by way ofdouble-haploids. This technique allows the creation of true breedinglines without the need for multiple generations of selfing andselection. In this manner true breeding lines can be produced in aslittle as one generation. Haploid embryos may be produced frommicrospores, pollen, anther cultures, or ovary cultures. The haploidembryos may then be doubled autonomously, or by chemical treatments(e.g. colchicine treatment). Alternatively, haploid embryos may be growninto haploid plants and treated to induce chromosome doubling. In eithercase, fertile homozygous plants are obtained. In accordance with theinvention, any of such techniques may be used in connection with a plantof the invention and progeny thereof to achieve a homozygous line.

Backcrossing can also be used to improve an inbred plant. Backcrossingtransfers a specific desirable trait from one inbred or non-inbredsource to an inbred that lacks that trait. This can be accomplished, forexample, by first crossing a superior inbred (A) (recurrent parent) to adonor inbred (non-recurrent parent), which carries the appropriate locusor loci for the trait in question. The progeny of this cross are thenmated back to the superior recurrent parent (A) followed by selection inthe resultant progeny for the desired trait to be transferred from thenon-recurrent parent. After five or more backcross generations withselection for the desired trait, the progeny have the characteristicbeing transferred, but are like the superior parent for most or almostall other loci. The last backcross generation would be selfed to givepure breeding progeny for the trait being transferred.

The plants of the present invention are particularly well suited for thedevelopment of new lines based on the elite nature of the geneticbackground of the plants. In selecting a second plant to cross withSV0109YL and/or squash lines ZGY-EH10002 and LEB 48-4101 for the purposeof developing novel squash lines, it will typically be preferred tochoose those plants which either themselves exhibit one or more selecteddesirable characteristics or which exhibit the desired characteristic(s)when in hybrid combination. Examples of desirable traits may include, inspecific embodiments, high seed yield, high seed germination, seedlingvigor, high fruit yield, disease tolerance or resistance, andadaptability for soil and climate conditions. Consumer-driven traits,such as a fruit shape, color, texture, and taste are other examples oftraits that may be incorporated into new lines of squash plantsdeveloped by this invention.

D. PERFORMANCE CHARACTERISTICS

As described above, hybrid SV0109YL exhibits desirable traits, asconferred by squash lines ZGY-EH10002 and LEB 48-4101. The performancecharacteristics of hybrid SV0109YL and squash lines ZGY-EH10002 and LEB48-4101 were the subject of an objective analysis of the performancetraits relative to other varieties. The results of the analysis arepresented below.

TABLE 4 Performance Data - shows trial results comparing “Anita” (thestandard variety in this class, without PM resistance) with LEBEHH0109.Hybrid YFSHP IFCLR MFUNF BES Frehr PLTVG PLHAB SPINE OYLOS ANITA 3 3 3 61 3 4 6 5 ANITA 3 3 3 6 1 4 5 6 6 ANITA 4 4 4 7 1 3 5 7 5 ANITA 3 3 3 71 4 6 7 5 LEBEHH0109 3 4 4 7 4 3 4 7 5 LEBEHH0109 4 3 6 4 1 5 4 7 5LEBEHH0109 4 3 5 5 2 3 4 7 5 LEBEHH0109 4 3 5 6 1 4 5 7 6 YFSHP—YoungFruit Shape, IFCLR—Immature (market stage) fruit color, MFUNF—MarketableFruit Uniformity, BES—Blossom End Scar, FREHR—Fruit ease of harvest,PLTVG—Plant Vigor, PLHAB—Plant Habit, SPINE—level of spininess,OYLOS—objective yield score. All traits are observed on a 1-9 slidingscale where 1 = optimal expression of the trait, 5 = acceptableexpression of the trait, 9 = unacceptable expression of the trait.Observations were made in De'ir Alla Jordan, early 2012 (winter season).

E. FURTHER EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

In certain aspects of the invention, plants described herein areprovided modified to include at least a first desired heritable trait.Such plants may, in one embodiment, be developed by a plant breedingtechnique called backcrossing, wherein essentially all of themorphological and physiological characteristics of a variety arerecovered in addition to a genetic locus transferred into the plant viathe backcrossing technique. The term single locus converted plant asused herein refers to those squash plants which are developed by a plantbreeding technique called backcrossing, wherein essentially all of themorphological and physiological characteristics of a variety arerecovered in addition to the single locus transferred into the varietyvia the backcrossing technique. By essentially all of the morphologicaland physiological characteristics, it is meant that the characteristicsof a plant are recovered that are otherwise present when compared in thesame environment, other than an occasional variant trait that mightarise during backcrossing or direct introduction of a transgene.

Backcrossing methods can be used with the present invention to improveor introduce a characteristic into the present variety. The parentalsquash plant which contributes the locus for the desired characteristicis termed the nonrecurrent or donor parent. This terminology refers tothe fact that the nonrecurrent parent is used one time in the backcrossprotocol and therefore does not recur. The parental squash plant towhich the locus or loci from the nonrecurrent parent are transferred isknown as the recurrent parent as it is used for several rounds in thebackcrossing protocol.

In a typical backcross protocol, the original variety of interest(recurrent parent) is crossed to a second variety (nonrecurrent parent)that carries the single locus of interest to be transferred. Theresulting progeny from this cross are then crossed again to therecurrent parent and the process is repeated until a squash plant isobtained wherein essentially all of the morphological and physiologicalcharacteristics of the recurrent parent are recovered in the convertedplant, in addition to the single transferred locus from the nonrecurrentparent.

The selection of a suitable recurrent parent is an important step for asuccessful backcrossing procedure. The goal of a backcross protocol isto alter or substitute a single trait or characteristic in the originalvariety. To accomplish this, a single locus of the recurrent variety ismodified or substituted with the desired locus from the nonrecurrentparent, while retaining essentially all of the rest of the desiredgenetic, and therefore the desired physiological and morphologicalconstitution of the original variety. The choice of the particularnonrecurrent parent will depend on the purpose of the backcross; one ofthe major purposes is to add some commercially desirable trait to theplant. The exact backcrossing protocol will depend on the characteristicor trait being altered and the genetic distance between the recurrentand nonrecurrent parents. Although backcrossing methods are simplifiedwhen the characteristic being transferred is a dominant allele, arecessive allele, or an additive allele (between recessive anddominant), may also be transferred. In this instance it may be necessaryto introduce a test of the progeny to determine if the desiredcharacteristic has been successfully transferred.

In one embodiment, progeny squash plants of a backcross in which a plantdescribed herein is the recurrent parent comprise (i) the desired traitfrom the non-recurrent parent and (ii) all of the physiological andmorphological characteristics of squash the recurrent parent asdetermined at the 5% significance level when grown in the sameenvironmental conditions.

New varieties can also be developed from more than two parents. Thetechnique, known as modified backcrossing, uses different recurrentparents during the backcrossing. Modified backcrossing may be used toreplace the original recurrent parent with a variety having certain moredesirable characteristics or multiple parents may be used to obtaindifferent desirable characteristics from each.

With the development of molecular markers associated with particulartraits, it is possible to add additional traits into an established germline, such as represented here, with the end result being substantiallythe same base germplasm with the addition of a new trait or traits.Molecular breeding, as described in Moose and Mumm, 2008 (PlantPhysiology, 147: 969-977), for example, and elsewhere, provides amechanism for integrating single or multiple traits or QTL into an eliteline. This molecular breeding-facilitated movement of a trait or traitsinto an elite line may encompass incorporation of a particular genomicfragment associated with a particular trait of interest into the eliteline by the mechanism of identification of the integrated genomicfragment with the use of flanking or associated marker assays. In theembodiment represented here, one, two, three or four genomic loci, forexample, may be integrated into an elite line via this methodology. Whenthis elite line containing the additional loci is further crossed withanother parental elite line to produce hybrid offspring, it is possibleto then incorporate at least eight separate additional loci into thehybrid. These additional loci may confer, for example, such traits as adisease resistance or a fruit quality trait. In one embodiment, eachlocus may confer a separate trait. In another embodiment, loci may needto be homozygous and exist in each parent line to confer a trait in thehybrid. In yet another embodiment, multiple loci may be combined toconfer a single robust phenotype of a desired trait.

Many single locus traits have been identified that are not regularlyselected for in the development of a new inbred but that can be improvedby backcrossing techniques. Single locus traits may or may not betransgenic; examples of these traits include, but are not limited to,herbicide resistance, resistance to bacterial, fungal, or viral disease,insect resistance, modified fatty acid or carbohydrate metabolism, andaltered nutritional quality. These comprise genes generally inheritedthrough the nucleus.

Direct selection may be applied where the single locus acts as adominant trait. For this selection process, the progeny of the initialcross are assayed for viral resistance and/or the presence of thecorresponding gene prior to the backcrossing. Selection eliminates anyplants that do not have the desired gene and resistance trait, and onlythose plants that have the trait are used in the subsequent backcross.This process is then repeated for all additional backcross generations.

Selection of squash plants for breeding is not necessarily dependent onthe phenotype of a plant and instead can be based on geneticinvestigations. For example, one can utilize a suitable genetic markerwhich is closely genetically linked to a trait of interest. One of thesemarkers can be used to identify the presence or absence of a trait inthe offspring of a particular cross, and can be used in selection ofprogeny for continued breeding. This technique is commonly referred toas marker assisted selection. Any other type of genetic marker or otherassay which is able to identify the relative presence or absence of atrait of interest in a plant can also be useful for breeding purposes.Procedures for marker assisted selection are well known in the art. Suchmethods will be of particular utility in the case of recessive traitsand variable phenotypes, or where conventional assays may be moreexpensive, time consuming or otherwise disadvantageous. Types of geneticmarkers which could be used in accordance with the invention include,but are not necessarily limited to, Simple Sequence Length Polymorphisms(SSLPs) (Williams et al., Nucleic Acids Res., 1 8:6531-6535, 1990),Randomly Amplified Polymorphic DNAs (RAPDs), DNA AmplificationFingerprinting (DAF), Sequence Characterized Amplified Regions (SCARs),Arbitrary Primed Polymerase Chain Reaction (AP-PCR), Amplified FragmentLength Polymorphisms (AFLPs) (EP 534 858, specifically incorporatedherein by reference in its entirety), and Single NucleotidePolymorphisms (SNPs) (Wang et al., Science, 280:1077-1082, 1998).

F. PLANTS DERIVED BY GENETIC ENGINEERING

Many useful traits that can be introduced by backcrossing, as well asdirectly into a plant, are those which are introduced by genetictransformation techniques. Genetic transformation may therefore be usedto insert a selected transgene into a plant of the invention or may,alternatively, be used for the preparation of transgenes which can beintroduced by backcrossing. Methods for the transformation of plantsthat are well known to those of skill in the art and applicable to manycrop species include, but are not limited to, electroporation,microprojectile bombardment, Agrobacterium-mediated transformation anddirect DNA uptake by protoplasts.

To effect transformation by electroporation, one may employ eitherfriable tissues, such as a suspension culture of cells or embryogeniccallus or alternatively one may transform immature embryos or otherorganized tissue directly. In this technique, one would partiallydegrade the cell walls of the chosen cells by exposing them topectin-degrading enzymes (pectolyases) or mechanically wound tissues ina controlled manner.

An efficient method for delivering transforming DNA segments to plantcells is microprojectile bombardment. In this method, particles arecoated with nucleic acids and delivered into cells by a propellingforce. Exemplary particles include those comprised of tungsten,platinum, and preferably, gold. For the bombardment, cells in suspensionare concentrated on filters or solid culture medium. Alternatively,immature embryos or other target cells may be arranged on solid culturemedium. The cells to be bombarded are positioned at an appropriatedistance below the macroprojectile stopping plate.

An illustrative embodiment of a method for delivering DNA into plantcells by acceleration is the Biolistics Particle Delivery System, whichcan be used to propel particles coated with DNA or cells through ascreen, such as a stainless steel or Nytex screen, onto a surfacecovered with target cells. The screen disperses the particles so thatthey are not delivered to the recipient cells in large aggregates.Microprojectile bombardment techniques are widely applicable, and may beused to transform virtually any plant species.

Agrobacterium-mediated transfer is another widely applicable system forintroducing gene loci into plant cells. An advantage of the technique isthat DNA can be introduced into whole plant tissues, thereby bypassingthe need for regeneration of an intact plant from a protoplast. ModernAgrobacterium transformation vectors are capable of replication in E.coli as well as Agrobacterium, allowing for convenient manipulations(Klee et al., Bio-Technology, 3(7):637-642, 1985). Moreover, recenttechnological advances in vectors for Agrobacterium-mediated genetransfer have improved the arrangement of genes and restriction sites inthe vectors to facilitate the construction of vectors capable ofexpressing various polypeptide coding genes. The vectors described haveconvenient multi-linker regions flanked by a promoter and apolyadenylation site for direct expression of inserted polypeptidecoding genes. Additionally, Agrobacterium containing both armed anddisarmed Ti genes can be used for transformation.

In those plant strains where Agrobacterium-mediated transformation isefficient, it is the method of choice because of the facile and definednature of the gene locus transfer. The use of Agrobacterium-mediatedplant integrating vectors to introduce DNA into plant cells is wellknown in the art (Fraley et al., Bio/Technology, 3:629-635, 1985; U.S.Pat. No. 5,563,055).

Transformation of plant protoplasts also can be achieved using methodsbased on calcium phosphate precipitation, polyethylene glycol treatment,electroporation, and combinations of these treatments (see, e.g.,Potrykus et al., Mol. Gen. Genet., 199:183-188, 1985; Omirulleh et al.,Plant Mol. Biol., 21(3):415-428, 1993; Fromm et al., Nature,312:791-793, 1986; Uchimiya et al., Mol. Gen. Genet., 204:204, 1986;Marcotte et al., Nature, 335:454, 1988). Transformation of plants andexpression of foreign genetic elements is exemplified in Choi et al.(Plant Cell Rep., 13: 344-348, 1994), and Ellul et al. (Theor. Appl.Genet., 107:462-469, 2003).

A number of promoters have utility for plant gene expression for anygene of interest including but not limited to selectable markers,scoreable markers, genes for pest tolerance, disease resistance,nutritional enhancements and any other gene of agronomic interest.Examples of constitutive promoters useful for plant gene expressioninclude, but are not limited to, the cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV)P-35S promoter, which confers constitutive, high-level expression inmost plant tissues (see, e.g., Odel et al., Nature, 313:810, 1985),including in monocots (see, e.g., Dekeyser et al., Plant Cell, 2:591,1990; Terada and Shimamoto, Mol. Gen. Genet., 220:389, 1990); a tandemlyduplicated version of the CaMV 35S promoter, the enhanced 35S promoter(P-μ35S); 1 the nopaline synthase promoter (An et al., Plant Physiol.,88:547, 1988); the octopine synthase promoter (Fromm et al., Plant Cell,1:977, 1989); and the figwort mosaic virus (P-FMV) promoter as describedin U.S. Pat. No. 5,378,619 and an enhanced version of the FMV promoter(P-eFMV) where the promoter sequence of P-FMV is duplicated in tandem;the cauliflower mosaic virus 19S promoter; a sugarcane bacilliform viruspromoter; a commelina yellow mottle virus promoter; and other plant DNAvirus promoters known to express in plant cells.

A variety of plant gene promoters that are regulated in response toenvironmental, hormonal, chemical, and/or developmental signals can alsobe used for expression of an operably linked gene in plant cells,including promoters regulated by (1) heat (Callis et al., PlantPhysiol., 88:965, 1988), (2) light (e.g., pea rbcS-3A promoter,Kuhlemeier et al., Plant Cell, 1:471, 1989; maize rbcS promoter,Schaffner and Sheen, Plant Cell, 3:997, 1991; or chlorophyll a/b-bindingprotein promoter, Simpson et al., EMBO J., 4:2723, 1985), (3) hormones,such as abscisic acid (Marcotte et al., Plant Cell, 1:969, 1989), (4)wounding (e.g., wunl, Siebertz et al., Plant Cell, 1:961, 1989); or (5)chemicals such as methyl jasmonate, salicylic acid, or Safener. It mayalso be advantageous to employ organ-specific promoters (e.g., Roshal etal., EMBO J., 6:1155, 1987; Schernthaner et al., EMBO J., 7:1249, 1988;Bustos et al., Plant Cell, 1:839, 1989).

Exemplary nucleic acids which may be introduced to plants of thisinvention include, for example, DNA sequences or genes from anotherspecies, or even genes or sequences which originate with or are presentin the same species, but are incorporated into recipient cells bygenetic engineering methods rather than classical reproduction orbreeding techniques. However, the term “exogenous” is also intended torefer to genes that are not normally present in the cell beingtransformed, or perhaps simply not present in the form, structure, etc.,as found in the transforming DNA segment or gene, or genes which arenormally present and that one desires to express in a manner thatdiffers from the natural expression pattern, e.g., to over-express.Thus, the term “exogenous” gene or DNA is intended to refer to any geneor DNA segment that is introduced into a recipient cell, regardless ofwhether a similar gene may already be present in such a cell. The typeof DNA included in the exogenous DNA can include DNA which is alreadypresent in the plant cell, DNA from another plant, DNA from a differentorganism, or a DNA generated externally, such as a DNA sequencecontaining an antisense message of a gene, or a DNA sequence encoding asynthetic or modified version of a gene.

Many hundreds if not thousands of different genes are known and couldpotentially be introduced into a squash plant according to theinvention. Non-limiting examples of particular genes and correspondingphenotypes one may choose to introduce into a squash plant include oneor more genes for insect tolerance, such as a Bacillus thuringiensis(B.t.) gene, pest tolerance such as genes for fungal disease control,herbicide tolerance such as genes conferring glyphosate tolerance, andgenes for quality improvements such as yield, nutritional enhancements,environmental or stress tolerances, or any desirable changes in plantphysiology, growth, development, morphology or plant product(s). Forexample, structural genes would include any gene that confers insecttolerance including but not limited to a Bacillus insect control proteingene as described in WO 99/31248, herein incorporated by reference inits entirety, U.S. Pat. No. 5,689,052, herein incorporated by referencein its entirety, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,500,365 and 5,880,275, hereinincorporated by reference in their entirety. In another embodiment, thestructural gene can confer tolerance to the herbicide glyphosate asconferred by genes including, but not limited to Agrobacterium strainCP4 glyphosate resistant EPSPS gene (aroA:CP4) as described in U.S. Pat.No. 5,633,435, herein incorporated by reference in its entirety, orglyphosate oxidoreductase gene (GOX) as described in U.S. Pat. No.5,463,175, herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.

Alternatively, the DNA coding sequences can affect these phenotypes byencoding a non-translatable RNA molecule that causes the targetedinhibition of expression of an endogenous gene, for example viaantisense- or cosuppression-mediated mechanisms (see, for example, Birdet al., Biotech. Gen. Engin. Rev., 9:207, 1991). The RNA could also be acatalytic RNA molecule (i.e., a ribozyme) engineered to cleave a desiredendogenous mRNA product (see for example, Gibson and Shillito, Mol.Biotech., 7:125, 1997). Thus, any gene which produces a protein or mRNAwhich expresses a phenotype or morphology change of interest is usefulfor the practice of the present invention.

G. DEFINITIONS

In the description and tables herein, a number of terms are used. Inorder to provide a clear and consistent understanding of thespecification and claims, the following definitions are provided:

Allele: Any of one or more alternative forms of a gene locus, all ofwhich alleles relate to one trait or characteristic. In a diploid cellor organism, the two alleles of a given gene occupy corresponding locion a pair of homologous chromosomes.

Backcrossing: A process in which a breeder repeatedly crosses hybridprogeny, for example a first generation hybrid (F₁), back to one of theparents of the hybrid progeny. Backcrossing can be used to introduce oneor more single locus conversions from one genetic background intoanother.

Crossing: The mating of two parent plants.

Cross-pollination: Fertilization by the union of two gametes fromdifferent plants.

Diploid: A cell or organism having two sets of chromosomes.

Emasculate: The removal of plant male sex organs or the inactivation ofthe organs with a cytoplasmic or nuclear genetic factor or a chemicalagent conferring male sterility.

Enzymes: Molecules which can act as catalysts in biological reactions.

F₁ Hybrid: The first generation progeny of the cross of two nonisogenicplants.

Genotype: The genetic constitution of a cell or organism.

Haploid: A cell or organism having one set of the two sets ofchromosomes in a diploid.

Linkage: A phenomenon wherein alleles on the same chromosome tend tosegregate together more often than expected by chance if theirtransmission was independent.

Marker: A readily detectable phenotype, preferably inherited incodominant fashion (both alleles at a locus in a diploid heterozygoteare readily detectable), with no environmental variance component, i.e.,heritability of 1.

Phenotype: The detectable characteristics of a cell or organism, whichcharacteristics are the manifestation of gene expression.

Quantitative Trait Loci (QTL): Quantitative trait loci (QTL) refer togenetic loci that control to some degree numerically representabletraits that are usually continuously distributed.

Resistance: As used herein, the terms “resistance” and “tolerance” areused interchangeably to describe plants that show no symptoms to aspecified biotic pest, pathogen, abiotic influence or environmentalcondition. These terms are also used to describe plants showing somesymptoms but that are still able to produce marketable product with anacceptable yield. Some plants that are referred to as resistant ortolerant are only so in the sense that they may still produce a crop,even though the plants are stunted and the yield is reduced.

Regeneration: The development of a plant from tissue culture.

Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) color chart value: The RHS color chartis a standardized reference which allows accurate identification of anycolor. A color's designation on the chart describes its hue, brightnessand saturation. A color is precisely named by the RHS color chart byidentifying the group name, sheet number and letter, e.g., Yellow-OrangeGroup 19A or Red Group 41B.

Self-pollination: The transfer of pollen from the anther to the stigmaof the same plant.

Single Locus Converted (Conversion) Plant: Plants which are developed bya plant breeding technique called backcrossing, wherein essentially allof the morphological and physiological characteristics of a squashvariety are recovered in addition to the characteristics of the singlelocus transferred into the variety via the backcrossing technique and/orby genetic transformation.

Substantially Equivalent: A characteristic that, when compared, does notshow a statistically significant difference (e.g., p=0.05) from themean.

Tissue Culture: A composition comprising isolated cells of the same or adifferent type or a collection of such cells organized into parts of aplant.

Transgene: A genetic locus comprising a sequence which has beenintroduced into the genome of a squash plant by transformation.

H. DEPOSIT INFORMATION

A deposit of squash hybrid SV0109YL and inbred parent lines ZGY-EH10002and LEB 48-4101, disclosed above and recited in the claims, has beenmade with the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC), 10801 UniversityBlvd., Manassas, Va. 20110-2209. The date of deposits were Mar. 25,2013, Mar. 25, 2013, and Sep. 23, 2011, respectively. The accessionnumbers for those deposited seeds of squash hybrid SV0109YL and inbredparent lines ZGY-EH10002 and LEB 48-4101 are ATCC Accession No.PTA-13637, ATCC Accession No. PTA-PTA-13634, and ATCC Accession No.PTA-11348, respectively. Upon issuance of a patent, all restrictionsupon the deposits will be removed, and the deposits are intended to meetall of the requirements of 37 C.F.R. §1.801-1.809. The deposits will bemaintained in the depository for a period of 30 years, or 5 years afterthe last request, or for the effective life of the patent, whichever islonger, and will be replaced if necessary during that period.

Although the foregoing invention has been described in some detail byway of illustration and example for purposes of clarity andunderstanding, it will be obvious that certain changes and modificationsmay be practiced within the scope of the invention, as limited only bythe scope of the appended claims.

All references cited herein are hereby expressly incorporated herein byreference.

What is claimed is:
 1. A squash plant comprising at least a first set ofthe chromosomes of squash line ZGY-EH10002, a sample of seed of saidline having been deposited under ATCC Accession Number PTA-13634.
 2. Aseed comprising at least a first set of the chromosomes of squash lineZGY-EH10002, a sample of seed of said line having been deposited underATCC Accession Number PTA-13634.
 3. The plant of claim 1, which is aninbred.
 4. The plant of claim 1, which is a hybrid.
 5. The seed of claim2, which is an inbred.
 6. The seed of claim 2, which is a hybrid.
 7. Theplant of claim 4, wherein the hybrid plant is squash hybrid SV0109YL, asample of seed of said hybrid SV0109YL having been deposited under ATCCAccession Number PTA-13637.
 8. The seed of claim 6, defined as a seed ofsquash hybrid SV0109YL, a sample of seed of said hybrid SV0109YL havingbeen deposited under ATCC Accession Number PTA-13637.
 9. The seed ofclaim 2, defined as a seed of line ZGY-EH10002.
 10. A plant part of theplant of claim 1, said plant part comprising at least a first set of thechromosomes of squash line ZGY-EH10002, a sample of seed of said linehaving been deposited under ATCC Accession Number PTA-13634.
 11. Theplant part of claim 10, further defined as a leaf, an ovule, pollen, afruit, or a cell.
 12. A squash plant having all the physiological andmorphological characteristics of the squash plant of claim
 7. 13. Atissue culture of regenerable cells of the plant of claim 1, said cellscomprising at least a first set of the chromosomes of squash lineZGY-EH10002, a sample of seed of said line having been deposited underATCC Accession Number PTA-13634.
 14. The tissue culture according toclaim 13, comprising cells or protoplasts from a plant part selectedfrom the group consisting of embryos, meristems, cotyledons, pollen,leaves, anthers, roots, root tips, pistil, flower, seed and stalks. 15.A squash plant regenerated from the tissue culture of claim
 13. 16. Amethod of vegetatively propagating the squash plant of claim 1, saidmethod comprising the steps of: (a) collecting tissue capable of beingpropagated from the plant according to claim 1; (b) cultivating saidtissue to obtain proliferated shoots; and (c) rooting said proliferatedshoots to obtain rooted plantlets.
 17. The method of claim 16, furthercomprising growing at least a first squash plant from said rootedplantlets.
 18. A method of introducing a desired trait into a squashline, said method comprising: (a) crossing a plant of line ZGY-EH10002with a second squash plant that comprises a desired trait to produce F1progeny, a sample of seed of said line having been deposited under ATCCAccession Number PTA-13634; (b) selecting an F1 progeny that comprisesthe desired trait; (c) backcrossing the selected F1 progeny with a plantof line ZGY-EH10002 to produce backcross progeny; (d) selectingbackcross progeny comprising the desired trait; and (e) repeating steps(c) and (d) three or more times to produce selected fourth or higherbackcross progeny that comprise the desired trait and otherwisecomprises all of the morphological and physiological characteristics ofsquash line ZGY-EH10002.
 19. A method of producing a squash plantcomprising an added trait, said method comprising introducing atransgene conferring the trait into a plant of squash hybrid SV0109YL,or squash line ZGY-EH10002, a sample of seed of said hybrid and linehaving been deposited under ATCC Accession Number PTA-13637, and ATCCAccession Number PTA-13634, respectively.
 20. A plant of squash hybridSV0109YL or line ZGY-EH10002, further comprising a transgene, wherein asample of seed of said hybrid and line has been deposited under ATCCAccession Number PTA-13637 and ATCC Accession Number PTA-13634,respectively, and wherein said plant otherwise comprises all of themorphological and physiological characteristics of squash hybridXV0109YL or line ZGY-EH10002.
 21. The plant of claim 20, wherein thetransgene confers a trait selected from the group consisting of malesterility, herbicide tolerance, insect resistance, pest resistance,disease resistance, modified fatty acid metabolism, environmental stresstolerance, modified carbohydrate metabolism and modified proteinmetabolism.
 22. A plant produced by introducing by backcrossing a singlelocus conversion into a plant of squash line ZGY-EH10002, wherein saidbackcrossing is sufficient to produce a plan comprising the single locusconversion and otherwise all of the morphological and physiologicalcharacteristics of squash line ZGY-EH10002, a sample of seed of saidline having been deposited under ATCC Accession Number PTA-13634. 23.The plant of claim 22, wherein the single locus conversion confers atrait selected from the group consisting of male sterility, herbicidetolerance, insect resistance, pest resistance, disease resistance,modified fatty acid metabolism, environmental stress tolerance, modifiedcarbohydrate metabolism and modified protein metabolism.
 24. A methodfor producing a seed of a squash plant derived from at least one ofsquash hybrid SV0109YL, or squash line ZGY-EH10002, said methodcomprising the steps of: (a) crossing a squash plant of hybrid SV0109YL,or line ZGY-EH10002 with itself or a second squash plant; a sample ofseed of said hybrid and line having been deposited under ATCC AccessionNumber PTA-13637, and ATCC Accession Number PTA-13634, respectively; and(b) allowing seed of a hybrid SV0109YL, or line ZGY-EH10002-derivedsquash plant to form.
 25. The method of claim 24, further comprising thesteps of: (c) selfing a plant grown from said hybrid SV0109YL, orZGY-EH10002-derived squash seed to yield additional hybrid SV0109YL, orline ZGY-EH10002-derived squash seed; (d) growing said additional hybridSV0109YL, or line ZGY-EH10002-derived squash seed of step (c) to yieldadditional hybrid SV0109YL, or line ZGY-EH10002-derived squash plants;and (e) repeating the crossing and growing steps of (c) and (d) togenerate at least a first further hybrid SV0109YL, or lineZGY-EH10002-derived squash plant.
 26. The method of claim 24, whereinthe second squash plant is of an inbred squash line.
 27. The method ofclaim 24, comprising crossing line ZGY-EH10002 with line LEB 48-4101, asample of seed of said lines having been deposited under ATCC AccessionNumber PTA-13634, and ATCC Accession Number PTA-11348, respectively. 28.The method of claim 25, further comprising: (f) crossing the furtherhybrid SV0109YL, or ZGY-EH10002-derived squash plant with a secondsquash plant to produce seed of a hybrid progeny plant.
 29. A plant partof the plant of claim 7, wherein the plant part comprises a cell ofzucchini hybrid SV0109YL.
 30. The plant part of claim 29, furtherdefined as a leaf, an ovule, pollen, a fruit, or a cell.
 31. A method ofproducing a squash seed, said method comprising crossing the plant ofclaim 1 with itself or a second squash plant and allowing seed to form.32. A method of producing a squash, said method comprising: (a)obtaining the plant according to claim 1, wherein the plant has beencultivated to maturity; and (b) collecting a squash from the plant. 33.A method of producing a plant of squash hybrid SV0109YL comprising asingle locus conversion, the method comprising crossing a plant of lineLEB 48-4101 with a plant of line ZGY-EH10002, wherein at least one ofsaid lines comprises a single locus conversion, a sample of seed of saidlines LEB 48-4101 and ZGY-EH10002 having been deposited under ATCCAccession No. PTA-11348 and ATCC Accession Number PTA-13634,respectively.